Stubble-burning machine.



No. 67!,0l0. Patented Apr. 2, mm.

VE GHANNIFF STUBBLE BURNING MACHINE.

(Applieatioh filed. Jule a, 1900.)

' (N0 Iiodal.)

annotate:

a Hot "e130 u MM.

T NaRms vzrzns 00 FHOYO-LITN EDGAR CAN NIFF, OF WINNIPEG", CANADA.

STUBBLE-BURNING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,010, dated April 2,1901.

Application filed June 2, 1900. gerial No. 18,892. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR GANNIFF, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba and Dominionof Canada, have invented a new and useful Stubble-Burning Machine, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stubble-burning machines, and has for its objectto produce a device of this kind by means of which straw may be utilizedas fuel and the stubble of a field can be quickly burned over, so as toconvert the stubble into the most available plant-food and avoid thedelay and loss of moisture in rotting the same when turned under by theplow. Experience has shown that in the great wheat-raising regions ofthe Northwest there is but a minimum rainfall from the time the seed issown until after it has grown to such an extent as to commence stoolingor increasing the number of stalks for each grain of wheat. If thestubble of the previous crop should be turned under, it will absorb moreor less of the moisture in the ground, and thereby decrease theavailable amount of moisture to that extent for the growing crop. Inaddition to this a great many of the stalks project above the surface ofthe ground, and thereby form passages for the air to the points atgreater or less depth, which rapidly evaporate and carry away additionalmoisture. Under these conditions the growing crop is often retarded ordamaged to aconsiderable extent. On the other hand, it has been foundthat if the stubble were consumed before being turned under theresulting ash will act as a fertilizer and will improve the condition ofthe soil, thereby tending to increase the yield of the succeeding crop.

I have found that by depositing a small amount of straw upon the stubbleand setting fire to it and then covering the fire with a movableprotector or shield the shield can be drawn across the field quickly andefiectively burn the stubble, a small additional amount of straw beingscatteredin front of the shield to take the place of that which isconsumed.

My invention consists in the improved consuch a shield or burner, aswill be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference-numeralsindicate corresponding parts in each of the views in which they occur,Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved burner or shield. Fig. 2is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detailView.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the shoes orrunners of my improved burner, which may be of any suitable length andare preferably formed from steel. One of the runners is located at eachend of the machine and the intermediate portion is provided with asufficient number to properly support it, one runner being shown in thedrawings. Secured at the opposite ends of said runners are the standard2 and legs 3, the standards being preferably inclined to the rear andthe legs being slightly curved forward. The cross-piece lis secured tothe standards and is preferably formed from channeled iron, with theflat surface downward. Rigidly secured within the channel by means orbolts or otherwise directly over each of the standards is the rear endof a curved frame 5, the forward end of which is suitably secured to theupper end of the cor responding legs.

A flat sheet-metal top 6 is secured to the frames in any suitable mannerto form a cover for the burner. Suitable openings 7 are formedthroughout the cover to assist in the combustion or burning of the strawand stubble as the machine moves forward. Aprons 8 are secured in frontof the machine, preferably by means of pivots or hinges, and otheraprons 9 and 10 may be secured at the ends and to the rear. The loweredges of these aprons extend down nearly to the ground, sufficient spacebeing left for the entrance of air to support the combustion of thestraw and stubble.

Rigidly secured to the under side of the cross-piece 4 are a series offorwardly-extending prongs or forks 11, the rear ends of which arecurved to such an extent as to permit of the front ends lying so nearthe ground as to engage with the straw and carry it forward as themachine advances, thereby permitting of the straw being thoroughlyconsumed and of causing the combustion of the stubble over which itpasses. I prefer to construct these forks or fingers of differentlengths and have their forward ends slightly curved or rounded upon theunder surface, so as .to readily slip over obstructions instead ofengaging therewith.

Secured To the rear portion of the machine at each end, preferably atthe ends of the cross-piece 4, is a chain 12, the front ends of whichare joined together by means of a bar or rod 13. The intermediateportion of each chain is secured to the front legs by means of a loop14.

As above described, my improved strawburner is secured at the rear of anordinary farm wagon and is drawn back and forth across the field as thewagon advances. A desirable amount of straw is placed upon the wagon,which is gradually thrown off in front of the advancing burner. Beforethe machine is started the straw which is thrown in front of it islighted, and after it gets to burning sufficiently the machine is movedforward and passes over the burning straw and picks it up and carries itforward. The additional straw that is thrown from the wagon graduallypasses under the burnerand is fired by the burning straw therein, and inturn it sets fire to the additional straw, the aprons in front swingingupon their pivots to permit of the entrance of the unconsumed straw. Theintense heat generated within the burner will rapidly consume anystubble that may be upon the ground, and it will also destroy all seedsof weeds and obnoxious plants, thereby preventing their germination andgrowth with the succeeding crop of wheat. With a heavy stubble and asufficient wind it is only necessary to pass the burner across the fieldat suitable distances apart, as the fire will travel from one burnedpath to the other. By making the machine of sufficient width it will beseen that a large area of ground may be quickly passed over, therebyenabling the farmer to remove the stubble in a very expeditious andsatisfactory manner.

Although I have shown what I consider the most desirable form ofconstructing my improved stubble-burner, yet I reserve the right tomakesuch changes and alterations therein as will come within the scope of myinvention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a stubble-burner, the combination, with a movable support, of ashield thereon, the front of the shield being open and adapted for thepassage thereinto of fuel, and fuelsupports within the shield which areadapted to pick up fuel from the ground, substantially as described.

2. In a stubble-burner, the combination, with a movable support, of ashield thereon, the front of the shield being provided with swingingaprons, and the rear portion with forwardly-extending fuel-supports,said supports being adapted to pick up fuel from the ground,substantially as described.

3. In a stubble-burner, the combination, with runners, of a perforatedshield supported thereby, aprons pivotally secured at the front of theshield and forwardly-extending fuel-supporters at the rear, saidsupports being adapted to pick up fuel from the ground, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a stubble-burner, the combination, with runners, the rear end ofeach of which is provided with a standard, a crosspiece secured to thetops of said standards, frames secured to the cross-piece, means forconnecting the forward ends of the frames with the forward ends of therunners, a perforated shield on said frames, aprons at the front andsides of said shield, and forwardly-extending fuel-supporters within theshield, substantially as described.

5. In a stubble-burner, the combination, with runners, of a standard atthe rear end of each runner, an angled cross-piece secured to the topsof said standards, a frame secured at its rear end within the angledportion of the cross-piece above each standard, means for connecting theforward ends of said frames with the forward ends of the runners, aperforated shield on the frames, aprons at the front and sides of saidshield and downwardly and forwardly extending forks secured to the underside of said cross-piece, and means for moving said burner forward,substantially as described.

6. In a stubble-burner, the combination, with runners, of a curved legsecured to the forward end of each runner and a standard secured to therear end, a cross-piece secured to the tops of said standards, framessecured to the cross-piece and to the legs, a shield upon said frames,downwardly and forwardly extending fuelsupporters secured to the underside of the cross-piece, a chain secured to the rear portion of theburner at each end, a cross-bar secured at the forward ends of saidchains, and loops for securing the intermediate portions of the chainsto the legs.

EDGAR OANNIFF.

Witnesses:

T. S. EWART, W. S. MOLAREN.

